Bobbin battery indexing mechanism



Sept. 23, 1952 K u cz 2,611394 BOBBZN BATTERY INDEXING MECHANISM FiledMarch 3, 1950 5 SheetsSheet 1 I INVENTOR. KAROL KU LCZYCKI ATTORNEYSept. 23, 1952 K. KULCZYCKI 2,611,394

BOBBIN BATTERY INDEXING MECHANISM Filed March 3, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. KAROL. KULCZYCKI m/Mum;

ATTORNEY Sept. 23, 1952 k. KULCZYCKI 2,611,394

BoBBI'N BATTERY INDEXING MECHANISM Filed March 5, 1950 v 3 Sheets-Sheet5 INVENTOR. KAROL KULCZYCKI haw ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 23, 1952 7BOBBIN BATTERY INDEXING MECHANISM Karol Kulczycki, Brooklyn, N. Y.,as'signor, by

mesne assignments, to Steel and Alloy Tankv Company, Newark, N. .L, acorporation of New Jersey Application March 3, 1950, Serial No. 147,482

14 Claims. (Cl. 139-250) The-present invention relates to a loommechanism for controlling the feed of a rotary hopper or batterycarrying the fresh filling bobbins.

In the usual type of automatic loom of of fly shuttle type, there isprovided a rotary hopper:

or battery for holding the reserve filling bobbins in a circular series,between two discs of said hopper. The hopperis rotated step by step tolocate successively the bobbins against a combined stop and bobbinguide, thus presenting them in position for transfer to the shuttle.This stop isso placed that it will check. the lowermost bobbin to betransferredinthe correctposition to be forced'out of the hopper and intothe shuttle.

The vibration of the loom during its normal operation causes rotation oroscillation of the bobbins in the hopper and more particularly thelowermost one engaged by the stop, This vibration very often causes theendof the filling yarn of the lowermost bobbin to become loose or towind itself around the usual anchoring means and thus to break. Toprevent this situation-oomparatively complicated mechanisms have beenproposed for holding the lowermost bobbin in the hopper against rotationor oscillation about its axis prior to being transferred into theshuttle.

One object of the present invention is to provide comparatively simpleand effective means for positively checking the rotation of the hopperautomatically after transfer and after thehopper has been rotated to thenext successive bobbin transfer position, without employing the usualbobbin stops or complicated bobbin holding means. i

In the usual loom construction, it has been found necessary to employ aheavy spring to stop the transfer mechanism and to return it to itsinitial position. This spring isalso strong enough to rotate the hopperinto fthe next-successive transfer. Such a heavy s ring isobjectionable, since it creates considerablestress and shock and sets upundesirable inertial forces which tend to create vibrations. Such aheavy spring also causes wear on theparts, especially the ratchet andpawl mechanism -'associated'with the step by step feed of the hopper. rv v A further object is to provideaa loom mechanism in which theautomatic step by step rotation of the hopper is effected withoutthe useof the usual'heavy spring and with minimum of shockeven during highspeed loom operations. In conventional loom constructions, the hopperhas a manual control device by which the hopper can be releasedordisconnected from automatic feed. However, the bobbin stop permitsmanual rotation ofthe hopper only to the extent to which it is unfilled,as the hopper will always stop when a bobbin reaches said stop. Asaresult, the filling of the hopper is difficult to accomplish from thefront of'the loom- Afurther object of the present invention is toprovide a new and improved hopper feedand control device which isautomatic in operation, but which can be manually operated andcontrolled to rotate the hopper selectively in any rotative positionindependently of the number of bobbins therein andto efiect thereby easyfilling of the hopper from thefront of the loom.

,A still further object is to provide a new and improved manual hopperfeed control device which is operable to render transfer ineffectivewithout shutting down the loom.

Various other objects of the invention are ap parent from the followingparticular description and from an inspection of the accompanyingdrawings, in which: v

V Fig. 1 is a rear detail view of the battery side of the loomshowingthe hopper feed and control mechanism embodying the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a section of the hopper feed and control mechanism takenapproximately along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing said mechanismduring normal operations, while no transfer is indicated and the hopperis locked;

Fig. 3 is a section similar to that of Fig. 2, but showing the hopperfeed and control mechanism after transfer has been indicat ed and at theinstant transfer of a fresh bobbin from the hopper to the shuttle hasbeen effected;

Fig. 4 is a sectionsimilar to that of Fig. 2, but showing in full linesthe hopper feed pawl dropped into a lower interdental space of theratchet gear after transfer has been completed, and in dot and dashlines said pawl advanced to rotate the ratchet gear one step into thenext transfer position;

Fig. 5'is a section of the hopper feed and control mechanismtakenapproximately along lines 55 of Fig. 1 and shown in position duringnormal operations before transfer is indicated, the manual feed controlfor the hopper being shown in full lines in inoperative position and indot and dash lines in releasing position to permit manual rotation ofthe hopper and to lockthe bobbin transfer mechanism against operation;

and t o 1 Fig. 6 is a section of the hopper feed and control mechanismsimilar to that of Fig.5, but shows this mechanism while transferisindicated and while the manual control device is in releasing positionto permit manual rotation of the hopper and to lock the transfermechanism against operation.

Referring to the drawings, the reserve bobbins it on which the fillingyarn is wound are carried in a circular series in a rotatable hopper ormagazine H. The hopper II is on the right hand side of the loom andcomprises a stationary plate 52 secured to a hopper stand [3 which inturn is afiixed to the part of the breast beam (not shown) on the rightloomside l5. The hopper stand 13 carries a bearing support 16 for ahopper shaft I! to which a pair of axially spaced bobbin supportingdiscs are aflixed in any suitable manner for rotation in unison (onlythe inner one 18 of said discs being shown).

Connected directly to the outer side of the outer bobbin supporting disc(not shown) is a suitable peripherally notched thread guide (not shown)cooperating with a thread holder in a manner known in the art.

For relea'sably supporting the heels or butts of the bobbins In in theinner disc [8, said disc has a ring (not shown) with a series ofcircumferentially spaced peripheral recesses in which the respectiveheels of the bobbins I!) are inserted. The heels of the bobbins projectbeyond the inner disc I8 outside of the space between the two bobbinsupporting discs.

For releasably supporting the tips of the bobbins in the outersupporting disc (not shown), said disc has a ring with a series ofperipheral recesses in alignment with respective recesses in the disc18. With the arrangement described, the bobbins are supported with theirheels or butts extending between the stationary plate I2 and the rotarydisc [8. The hopper device so far described, forms nopart of the presentinvention, and may be-of any other well known construction.

The operation of the transfer mechanism is controlled by a starting rod30 supported in journals 31 on the right loomside- I5. Wheneversubstantial exhaustion of the filling is indicated by a feeler (notshown) at the left-hand side of the loom, a partial revolution is givento the starting rod 30; This sets the transfer mechanism into operation,while the lay 32 along which the shuttle 33 is thrown is movingrearward, and the shuttle is approaching the shuttle box 34 on thebattery side of the loom.

The actual transfer of the lowermost fresh bobbin H! in the hopper H iseffected by a transfer mechanism which per se forms no part of thepresent invention, but which is fully disclosed and claimed incope'nding application Serial No. 147,483, filed March 3, 1950-. This"transfer mechanism comprises in general a main transferrer 35 andanauxiliary transferrer (not shown) operatable in unison by the motionof the lay 32, to engage the heel and tip section respectively of thebottom bobbin l and to force thereby said bobbin outof the hopper andagainst the spent bobbin in the shuttle 33. The fresh bobbin, whilebeing pressed into the top of the shuttle 33. forces the empty bobbintherein out through the bottom of the shuttle and into a suitablereceptacle (not shown).

The main transferrer 35 comprises an arm 40 pivotally mounted on a studor pin 4| on the hopper stand I3 and located outside the hopper H beyondthe stationary plate |2.- The transfer arm 40 has a transverse extension42 passing through a slot (not shown) in the stationary plate [2 andterminating at its outer end in a shoe or head 43 between said plate andthe rotary disc l8. This transfer head is adapted to engage the heel ofthe lowermost bobbin in the hopper l l during transfer. A spring 39returns the transfer arm 40 into the inactive position shown in Fig. 2.

The auxiliary transferrer (not shown) comprises an arm extending intothe space between the two rotary bobbin supporting discs of the hopperII and mounted on a hollow shaft 48 for engagement with the bobbin nearits tip. This shaft is mounted for rocking movement On a bearing or axlerod 49 affixed to a support on the hopper stand l3 and is operated inunison with the main transfer arm 46 by means disclosed fully in theaforesaid copending application.

To prevent transfer of the fresh bobbin when the shuttle 33 is notproperly in the shuttle box 34, there is provided a shuttle feelerdevice comprising a tubular guide 50 secured to a bracket 5| aifixed toand depending fromthe base 52 of the stand [3. Slidable in the guide 50is a feeler plunger 53 carrying a pin 54 extending through diametricallyopposed elongated slots 55 in said guide. The projecting ends of the pin5d are engaged by the forked prongs of an arm 55 affixed to a suitablyjournalled pivot shaft 51.

The feeler plunger 53 is operated fromthe starting rod 30 through thepivoted arm 56 when transfer is indicated. For that purpose, thestarting rod 30 has rigidly connected thereto a crank arm 60 pivotallyconnected at its outer end to one end of a giveway or lost-motion link6!, the other end of said link being connected to the pivoted arm 56.

For operating the two transfer arms including the main transfer arm 40for'bobbin transfer when transfer is indicated and to effect protectionthrough operation of the shuttle feeler device therein, there isprovided a bell crank 65 pivoted to an extension of the bracket 5| andhaving two arms 6'6 and 61. One of the crank arms 66 is connected to themain transfer arm 40 by a link 68 pivotally connected at its ends tosaid arms 66 and 40 respectively. The other crank arm 6'! pivotallycarries a latch finger H adapted to be engaged by a hunter [2 on theforward side of the lay 32 during the forward movement of the lay, aftertransfer has been indicated and the shuttle feeler has cleared themechanism for transfer. The bunter 12 has a V-shaped groove 13 and theouter end of the latch finger H is correspondingly bevelled forretention into said groove during transfer.

The latch finger H is moved into and out'of protective position throughthe feeler slide movement of the feeler plunger 53in the guide 50. Forthat purpose, there is an extensible spring link connection 16 betweenthe latch finger H and the feeler plunger 53. This springconnection issuch, that when no transfer is indicated, and the feeler plunger 53 isin the withdrawn in-' active position shown in Fig.2, the latch finger His held by said link connection in depressedposition in which positionit is out of the path of reciprocating movement of groove 13 of' the laybunter l2 and in line with the cut out portion 14 of said bunter. Whentransfer is indicated, and the feeler plunger 53 has been movedinto'shuttle feeler position shown in Fig. 3, the latch finger H will belifted into the path of movement of the groove 13 of the hunter 12 bythe spring, link connection 16. Consequently, as the lay 32 movesforward towards front center position,=its movekeyed to the hopper shaftI'I.

copending application.

. The feed mechanism for automatically rotating the hopper II one stepafter each transfer operation and for bringing the next fresh bobbininto transfer position and the control device forreleasing thismechanism to permit continuous manual rotation of the hopper constitutethe subject of the invention intended to be covered bythe presentapplication. This hopper feed mechanism comprises a ratchet gear 88affixed bystuds or bolts 8| to the outer side of the bobbin supportingdisc I8 of the hopper between said disc and the stationary plate I2 andThis ratchet gear is operated by a feed pawl 82 pressed into meshengagement with a tooth of said gear by a coil spring 83 connected tosaid pawl and to the plate I2. This feed pawl is pivotally secured by apivot stud or pin 84 to one end of a lever arm 85 pivotally mountedintermediate its ends to the hopper stand I3 by a pivot stud 86. Theother end of the lever arm 85 has secured thereto a tail comprising aspring bumper 81 adapted to be engaged by a lay sword 88 during itsreturn movement rearward after completion of transfer. This. causes thelever arm 85' to turn about its pivot support 86 into hopper feedingposition.

A stop pawl I88 pivotally mounted at IOI to stop block I02 secured tothe stationary plate I2 is pressed into tooth engagement with theratchet gear 80 by a coil spring I83 attached to said pawl and to thestationary plate I2. .The

pawl I00 serves to hold hopper II in position against counterclockwiserotation (Fig. 2) The pawl I00 is cam-shaped at its tooth engaging endso that it is moved automatically out of the interdental space of theratchet gear 80 when hopper II is rotated clockwise by a forcesufficient to overcome the pull of spring I83. The pull of spring I83 issuflicient to hold the hopper II in position when pawl 82 is taken outof engagement with ratchet gear 80 prior to clockwise rotation of hopperII, as will be later explained, for loading purposes.

The'stop block I82 has its bottom corner adjacent ratchet gear 80 cutaway as shown in Fig. 3 to engage the top of pawl 82 so that when thepawl 82 is in looking position (Fig. 2) the pawl 82 is wedged betweenthe stop block I82 and the ratchet gear 80 to prevent clockwise rotationof the hopper II.

The feed pawl 82 is made to take up a tooth on the ratchet gear 80 aftertransfer by the action of a link 90 pivotally connected at one end at 9|to the main transfer arm 40, and pivotally attached at its other end tothe lever arm 85 by a lost-motion connection comprising an elongatedslot 92 on said link extending lengthwise thereof and slidably receivinga pin 93 fastened to said lever arm. This lost-motion connection 92, 93serves toinitiate operation of the hopper feed mechanism near the laterphases of bobbin transfer.

During the final stages of each bobbin transfer operation, the link 90rotates the lever arm 85 about the pivot stud 86 and into position tocam the feed pawl 82 out of engagement with a tooth 6 of the ratchetgear and to cause it to fall downwards and by the action of the spring83 forwards into engagement with the next tooth of said ratchet gear.During the return rearward movement of the lay 32, the sword 88 engagingthe spring bumper 81 secured to the lever arm imparting clockwiserotation to said arm, the rotation being stopped when feed pawl 82 iswedged between stop block I82 and ratchet gear 88. This wedged positionaccurately locates hopper I I for the next transfer.

The spring bumper 81 is shown comprising a pair of leaf springs securedto the lever arm 85 by bolts and disposed on one side of the lay sword88. A bracket 96 secured to the lay sword 88 carries a hunter 91extending over the spring bumper 81. The lay sword 88 is mounted forrocking angular movement about a lower support, so that the hunter 9!carried by said lay sword moves gradually downward as it moves rearwardof the loom. 7

As the lay 32 moves rearward after completion of transfer, the hunter 91on the lay sword 88 engaging the spring bumper 81 moves said bumperdownward. This'causes the feed pawl 82 to rotate the hopper II clockwiseone tooth step into the next transfer position as described.

A manual control device serves to disconnect the automatic hopperfeeding mechanism to lock the transfer mechanism against operation andto disengage the feed pawl 82 from the ratchet gear 80, so that thehopper II may be turned back by hand, as when inserting fresh bobbins.This manual control device comprises a hand lever I I0 pivotally moimtedat III to the stationary plate I2 and projecting beyond the edgethereof, to afford easy accessibility to said hand lever. This handlever is normally urged by a coil spring I I2 into inoperative positionagainst an upper stop I I3 on the stationary plate I2.

The end of the lever arm 85 near the feed pawl 82 has an edge surface II4 located directly below the edge of the hand lever I I8 and adapted tobe engaged by said latter edge when said hand lever is pressed downward.This downward movement of the hand lever II!) causes the lever arm 85 toturn about its pivot support 86 and to move thereby the feed pawl 82 outof tooth engagement with the ratchet gear 88. A lower stop II5 for thehand lever III] limits the turning movement of the lever arm 85 so thatthe feed pawl 82 moves out of one interdental space on the ratchet gear80 but does not move into the next interdental space. The lower stop II5prevents suchrOtation of arm 85 as would carry bumper 81 into the pathof the lay 32 which condition would be undesirable during manualrotation of the hopp r I I. While the hand lever I I0 is depresseddownward against the lower stop I I 5, the ratchet gear 80 is releasedfrom engagement with the feed pawl 8| so that it may be rotatedclockwise (Fig. 2) continuously, as for example to fill the hop-'- perII.

The means for locking the transfer mechanism against operation when thehand lever I I8 is depressed comprises a rod I20 pivotally attached toand depending from said hand lever and guided for endwise movement in agroove I 2I in the hopper stand I3. The lower end of this rod is adaptedto extend into a hole I22 in the pivot shaft 57-on which the arm 58 foroperating the shuttle feeler plunger 53 is secured. When the feelerplunger 53 is in withdrawn inoperative position shown in Figs. 5 and 6,the shaft hole I22 is in alignment with the lower end of the rod 7 I andis, therefore, in position to receive said rod when lowered therein bydepressive manipulation of the hand lever I it. This manipulation causesthe pivot shaft 51 to be locked against rotation and renders thereby thetransfer mechanism inoperative. Continuous rotation of the hopper Hclockwise (Fig. 2) can consequently be effected manually with safety andwith assurance that the transfer mechanism will not be operated in themeantime.

Operation Although the operation of the apparatus of the presentinvention is obvious from the foregoing description, this operation isherein summarized:

While the loom is normally operatingas shown in Fig. 2 and the yarnsupply on the running shuttle is ample, the starting rod will be in therotative position shown, the latch finger H will be depressed out of thepath of movement of the lay bunter i2 and the shuttle feeler plunger 53will be withdrawn in its guide 50. In this inactive position of thestarting rod 30, the main transfer arm it will be in elevated positiondirectly above the lowermost bobbin It in the hopper II, the stop pawlI00 will be in the position shown to lock the ratchet gear 88 and,therefore, thehopper ll against rotation counterclockwise, whilepermitting clockwise rotation of said gear and hopper, and the feed pawl82 will be in position to lock said ratchet gear and, therefore, thehopper against clockwise rotation. The hopper II will thereby bepositively locked during normal operations against the effect of loomvibration's, without the use of bobbin stops or complicated bobbinholding devices.

Upon the receipt of a transfer impulse from a suitable filling feelermechanism near the left side of the 100m indicating substantialexhaustion of the filling, the starting rod 30 will be partially rotatedcounterclockwise from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig.3. This operation is effected while the lay 32 is moving towards thefront of the loom (towards the left in Figs. 2 and 3), and while theshuttle 33 approaches the box 34 on the magazine side of the loom, andcauses the pivoted arm 56 to swing counterclockwise and the feelerplunger 53 just beyond the end of the shuttle to be shifted in itsguide50 to the right. Thi movement of the feeler plunger 53 raises the latchfinger H through the extensible connection 16 from its depressedinactive position shown in Fig. 2 to the raised operative position inthe path of movement of the lay hunter 12 shown in Fig. 3.

As the lay 32 arrives at its rearmost point and then commences itsforward movement and the shuttle terminates its flight into the box 34,the open end of the box 34 just beyond the tip of a properly boxedshuttle 33 moves past the shuttle :feeler tip, so that the feelerplunger 53 will remain :in the projected position shown in Fig. 3, while:the lay moves forward toward front center position (toward the left inFig. 3).

Upon continued forward movement of the lay :32, the hunter 12 thereonwill engage the raised latch finger Has shown in Fig. 3, and will rotate"the bell crank 65 clockwise about its pivot support, causing therebydepressing angular movement of the main transfer arm clockwise about itspivot support 4| through the link 68 and at the same time depressingmovement of the auxiliary trans- :fer arm (not shown), in the mannerindicated in Tthe aforesaid application. The extensibility of the linkconnection 16 through its spring permits thisclockwise rotation of thebell crank 65.

The movement of the transfer'arms as described will cause the bottombobbin to be ejected from the hopper Hand to be delivered into theshuttle 33, while the spent bobbin is forced out of the shuttle by itsengagement with the incoming bobbin, as shown in Fig. 3.

During the final stages of the angular movement of the main transfer arm40 into transfer position shown in Fig. 3, the link 90 being pulleddownward, causes the lever arm 85 to rotate counterclockwise about itspivot support 86. By

this operation, the feed pawl 82 slides out of one interdental space ofthe ratchet; gear and is moved downward and rearward into the nextinterdental space as shown in full lines in Fig. 4.

After'bobbin transfer has been completedthe lay 32 starts movingrearwardly (towards the right in Figs. 2 and 3) of the loom as a resultof the rearward angular movement of the lay swords. During this rearwardmovement of the lay 32, the hunter 9'! on the lay sword 88 strikes thebumper spring 81 which is substantially horizontal and positivelyrotates the lever arm clockwise into the position shown in dot and dashlines in Fig. 4, causing thereby the feed pawl 82 to turn positively theratchet gear 80 one tooth step-and the hopper H to rotatecorrespondingly at a comparatively slow rate proportional to the speedof the lay 32. This operation brings the next bobbin on the hopper llinto transfer position in preparation for the next transfer operation.

While the ratchet gear 80-is being rotated clockwise into the nexttransfer position, the stop'pawl Ill-0, is being cammed out of oneinterdental space into'the next one. The snapping of this stop pawl intothis next interdental space by the action of the spring I03, serves asabrake on the ratchet gear 80 preventing it from overriding beyond onetooth step.

It should be noted that although the transfer arm 40 is returned by thestrong powerful spring 39 into inactive 'position, the lost-motionconnection 92, 93 between the link and the lever arm'- 85 is such thatthi spring has no effect on the feed'of the ratchet gear 80. The pawland ratchet parts of the hopper feed mechanism are, therefore, notsubjected to shock and excessive wear resulting from the impact orshookof such a spring, since the feed movement of the ratchet gear 8!! iseffected more gradually and-smoothly from themovement of the lay sword88 through the engagement of the hunter 91 on said sword with the springbumperB'I on the lever arm 85.

If during normal operations of the loom while the feele'rplunger 53 isin the inoperative withdrawn position shown in Fig. 5 and the 'pivotshaft 51 for the arm 56 is in the rotative position shown, it is desiredto rotate the hopper I 01001:- wise, the hand lever H0 is depressedfrom'the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotanddashlines. This Will'causes the trans-. for locking rod l 20 to belowered into the hole I22 in the pivot shaft 51, thereby locking shaftin position to prevent operation of the shuttle feeler 53 and preventingoperation of the transfer mechanism. At the same time, the lever arm 85is turned about its pivot support 86 just sufficiently to'effectdisengagement of the feed pawl 82 from the ratchet gear 80 but notenough to cause leaf spring 8'1'to contact bunter 91. Since there is nobobbin stop or guide, the hopper I I can be rotated continuouslycounterclockwise (Fig. 5) while the hand lever H0 is depressedregardless of the number of bobbins in said hopper, provided theauxiliary transfer arm (not shown) has been withdrawn in position toprevent blocking of said hopper, as described in the aforesaid copendingapplication; The hopper may thereby be filled entirely from thefront'ofthe loom regardless of the number of bobbins in the hopper.

If while the hand lever H is depressed, a transfer, impulse is receivedand the starting rod 30 is partially rotated from the position shown inFig. to that shown in Fig. 6, this is ineffective for, transfer, sincethe pivot shaft 51 controlling the operation of the shuttle feeler 53 islocked by the 'rod 120. The giveway or lost-motion characteristics ofthe link 6| permits rotation of the starting rod 30 Without operatingthe shuttle feeler, as shown in Fig, 6. e

, While, the invention has been described with particular reference to aspecific embodiment, it is to be understood that it is not to be limitedthereto, but is to be construed broadly and restricted solely by thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Ina loom, a lay for a shuttle, a rotary hopper, a mechanism fortransferring fresh bobbins successively from said'hopper into theshuttle and comprising a transfer arm adapted to engage a bobbin on saidhopper and movable to eject it therefrom towards the shuttle, and meansfor rotating said hopper step by step to bring the bobbins thereonsuccessively into transfer position with respect to said transferringmechanism at the end of each bobbin transfer operation and comprising aratchet gear connected for rotation with said hopper, a lever armmounted for angularmovement about a pivot axis, a feed pawl for saidratchet gear supported on said lever arm and adapted to be moved fromone interdental space of said gear to another as said lever arm movesangularly in one direction about its pivot axis, a link connectionbetween said arms for moving-said lever arm in said direction about itspivot axis as said transfer arm enters into the late phases of itstransfer operation, and a transmission between said lay and said leverarm for turning said lever arm about its pivot axis and in the oppositedirection to rotate said ratchet gear one-step at the end of each bobbintransfer operation.

,7 2. In aloom, a lay for a shuttle, a rotary hopper, a mechanism fortransferring fresh bobbins successively, from said hopper into theshuttle and-comprising a transfer arm adapted to engage a bobbin onsaidhopper and movable to ejectittherefrom towards theshuttle, and meansfor rotating said hopper step by step to bring the bobbins thereonsuccessively into transfer position with respect to said transferringmechanism at the end of each bobbintransfer opera-. tion and comprisinga ratchet gear connected for rotation with said hopper, a lever armmounted for angular movement about a pivot axis, a feed pawl for saidratchet gear supported on said lever arm and adapted to be moved fromone interdental space of said gear to another assaid lever arm movesangularly in one direction about its pivot axis, a link pivotallyconnected to said transfer arm and having a lost-motion pivotalconnection with said lever arm for moving said lever arm in saiddirection about its pivotal axis as said transfer arm is moving in thelate phases of its transfer operation, said lost-motionconnectionxpermitting said transfer arm to return towards inactiveposition without transmitting its return movement to said lever arm, andmeans for transmitting the movement of said lay to said] lever arm 'to'move it about its pivot axis in the opposite direction to rotatesaidratchet gear one step. g

3; In a loom, a lay for a shuttle, a rotary hopper, a mechanism fortransferring fresh bobbins successively from said hopperfintotheshuttle, and means/for rotating said lioppe'rstep by step to bringthe bobbins thereon successively into transfer position withrespect tosaid-transferring'meohanism at the end of each'b'obbin transferoperation'an'd comprising a feed member for transmitting rotary motionto said hopper; and spring bumper means between said lay and said memberfor transmitting the movement of-said lay "to said member and forrotating thereby said hopper one step. 7 v l 4. In a loom, a lay for ashuttle, a' rot'a'ry'hopper, a mechanism'for transferring fresh bobbinssuccessively from said hopper into the shuttle; and means for rotatingsaid hopper step by step to bring the bobbins thereon successively intotransfer position with respect to said transferring mechanism at the endof each bobbin transfer operation and comprising a ratchet gearconnected for rotation with said hopper, a feed pawl for said ratchetgear, means operatable from said transfer mechanism for moving said pawlfrom one interdental space of said gear to another, a spring bumper,bunter means connected to said lay and movable therewith for engagingsaid spring bumper and actuating it after'saidpawl has been moved fromone gear space to another, and transmission means betweensaid springbumper and said pawl to move said pawl into position to rotate saidhopper one 1 step-upon actuation-of said bumper. J

5. In a loom, a lay for a shuttle, a rotary hop-- per, a mechanism fortransferring fresh bobbins successively from said hopper intotheshuttle, and meansfor rotating said hopper step by stepto bringthe'bobbins thereon successively into transfer position with respect tosaid transferring mechanism at the end of each'bobbin transferoperation'and comprising a ratchet ge'ar-'con-- nected for rotation withsaidhopper, a level'a'rm mounted for angular movement about a pivotaxis, a feed pawl for saidratchet gear supported on said lever arm andadapted to be moved from one interdental space of 'saidgear to anotheras said lever arm moves angularly'in one direction about its pivot axis,means for moving saidlever arm in said direction about its pivotaxis'neai" completion of each transfer operation, and'means connected tosaid lay andmovable therewith for engaging said lever arm after saidpawl has been moved from one gear space to another, and moving it aboutits pivot axis in an' opposite direction to rotate said hopperone step.

6. Ina loom, a lay fora shuttle, a rotary hop per, a mechanism fortransferring-fresh bobbins successively from said hopper into theshuttle,

and means for rotating said hopper" step by step to bring the bobbinsthereon successively into transfer position withrespect'to saidtransferring mechanism at the end of each bobbin transfer" operation andcomprising aratchet gear connected for rotation 'with said hopper, aleverarm" mounted for angular movement about a pivot axis, a feed pawlfor said ratchet gear supported on said lever arm and adapted to bemovedfrom one interdental space of said gear to another as said lever armmoves angularly in one direction about its pivot axis, means for movingsaid leverarminsaid direction about its pivot axis near completion ofeach transfer operation, a spring bumper secured to said lever arm, anda hunter movable with said lay and mounted in position to engage saidspring bumper after said pawl has been moved from one gear space toanother and to'move said leverarm in an opposite direction to rotatesaid hopper one step.

7. In a loom, a lay for a shuttle rockable angularly about a centerlocated below said lay, whereby said lay drops gradually as it movesrearward, a rotary hopper, amechanism for transferrin-g fresh bobbinssuccessively'from-said hopper into the shuttle, andmeansfor rotatingsaid-hopper step by step to bring the bobbinssuccessively into transferposition-with respect to said transferring mechanism at the end of eachbobbin'transfer operation and comprising a ratchet gear connected forrotation with said hopper, a lever arm mounted for angular movementabout a pivot axis, a feed pawl forsaid ratchet gear supported on saidlever arm and'adapted tobe moved from oneinterdentalspace of'said gearto another as said lever arm moves-angularly in one direction about itspivot axis, said lever arm having a'tail extending substantiallyhorizontally when said lever arm has been moved-into position todisplacesaid pawl into said latter gear space, means for moving saidlever arm in said direction and into said position near the end of eachtransfer operation and a bunter movable with saidlay and adapted duringthe rearward movement-of said lay to engage said tail and to turnthereby said lever arm about its pivot axis and in the oppositedirection to rotate-said ratchet gear one step.

8. In a loom, the combinationras described in claim 7, said lever armtail comprising a spring leaf bumper. e

-9. vIn aloom,'a-1ay for a shuttle, upright swords for said laysupported for angular rocking. movement about a center located belowsaid lay, whereby said swords dropgradually attheir upper sections asthey move rearwardly of the loom, a mechanism for transferring freshbobbins successively from said hopper into the shuttle, and means forrotating said hopper step by step to bring the bobbins successivelyintotransfer position with respect to said transferring mechanism at the endof each bobbintransfer operation and comprising a ratchet gear connectedfor rotation with said hopper, a lever arm mounted for angular movementabout a pivot axis, a feed pawl for said ratchet gear supportedon'saidlever arm and adapted to be moved from one interdental space ofsaid gear to anotheras said lever arm moves angularly in one directionabout its pivot axis. said lever arm having a tail extendingsubstantially horizontally when said lever arm has been moved intoposition to displace said pawl into said latter gear space, means formoving said lever arm in said-direction and into said position near theend of each transfer operation, and a hunter connected to theuppersection of-one side of one of said swords above said lever arm tail andadapted during the rearward movement of said lay to engage said tail andto turn thereby said lever arm about its pivot axis and in the op positedirection to rotatesaid-ratchet gear one* said hopper step by step tobring the bobbins thereon successively into transfer position withrespect to said transferring mechanism at the end of each bobbintransfer operation, means for locking said hopper against rotation untilthe next bobbin transfer operation, manually .controlled means forreleasing said-locking means to permit said hopper to be rotatedmanually, and means operatable when said hopper is under manual controlfor automatically locking said shaft against rotation and for renderingthereby said transfer mechanisminoperative.

l1. Ina loom, a rotary hopper, a mechanism for transferring freshbobbins successively from said hopper into a shuttle and comprising "arotary shaft controlling the operation of said mechanism, means forautomatically rotating said hopper step by step to bring the bobbinsthereon successively into transferposition with respect to saidtransferring mechanism at the end of each bobbin transfer operation,means'for locking said hopper against rotation until the next bobbintransfer operation, a hand lever, means responsive to the actuation ofsaid hand lever in one direction from inactive position for releasingsaid locking means to permit said hopper to be rotated manually, and aconnection between said hand lever and said rotary shaft forautomatically locking said shaft against rotation and for renderingthereby said transfer mechanism inoperative when said hand lever isactuated in said direction from said inactive position, said connectionbeing automatically released from said shaft to permit said shaft tooperate when said hand lever is returned to 'said inactive position.

12. In a loom, the combination as described in claim 11, said shafthaving a hole transversely thereof, said connection comprising a rodconnected to said hand lever and movable into and out of said shaft holeas said hand lever is actuated to lock or unlock said shaft.

13. In a loom, a rotary hopper, a'mechanism for transferring freshbobbins successively from said hopper into a shuttle and comprising astarting rod adapted to be partially rotated when transfer is indicated,a pivot shaft, an arm connected to said pivot shaft for operating ashuttle feeler, and a connection between said starting rod and said armto swing said arm about the axis of said pivot shaft as said startingrod is partially rotated by a transfer indication, means forautomatically rotating said hopper step by step to bring the bobbinsthereon successively into transfer position with respect to saidtransferring mechanism at the end of each bobbin transfer operation,means for locking said hopper against rotation until the next bobbintransfer operation, a hand lever, means responsive to the actuation ofsaid hand lever in one direction from inactive position for releasingsaid locking means to permit said hopper to be rotated manually, and aconnection between said hand lever and said pivot shaft forautomatically locking said shaft against rotation and for renderingthereby said transfer mechanism inoperative when said hand lever isactuated in said direction from said inactive position, said connectionbeing automatically released from said shaft to permit said shaft tooperate when said hand lever is returned to said inactive position.

14. In a loom having a lay, a rotary hopper, a mechanism fortransferring fresh bobbins successively from said hopper into ashuttle'and comprising a pivoted transfer arm, means for rotating saidhopper automatically in a feeding direction one step after everyrbobbintransfer operation, and comprising a ratchet gear connected to saidhopper for rotation therewith, a lever arm separate from saidtransferring mechanism but operated therefrom, said lever arm beingsupported for turning movement about a pivot axis, a feed pawl pivotallyconnected to one end section of said lever, spring means yieldablypressing said pawl into mesh engagement with said ratchet gear, a linkbetween said transfer arm and said lever arm for turning said lever armabout its pivot axis in one direction, said pawl being adapted to bedisplaced from one interdental space of 7 said ratchet gear to anotherwhen said lever arm is turned in said latter direction, and means forengaging the other end section of said lever arm by a member movablewith said lay after transfer has been completed to turn said lever armabout its pivot REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 627,803 Clement June 27, 1899664,790 Stimpson Dec. 25, 1900 753,012 Stimpson Feb. 23, 1904 1,710,527Barrett et a1. Apr. 23, 1929 2,525,148 'Rinne et a1 Oct. 10, 1950

